'Caring' Kate to raise awareness of drug addiction

London, Feb 19 (ANI): The Duchess of Cambridge seems to be following in Princess Diana's footsteps as she plans to put the problems of drug addictions at the forefront of her charitable work.

Kate wants to break the social stigma attached to alcohol and drug addiction, just as her late mother- in-law did with Aids.

The Duchess is determined to help mend Britain's broken families by raising awareness of addiction.

Kate carried out her first official solo engagement as patron of Action on Addiction last week.

On a visit to The Brink, an alcohol-free bar in Liverpool, she spoke to staff as well as to former addicts.

According to sources close to Kate, she plans to put the cause at the forefront of her charitable work. Diana was at the vanguard of a campaign to end the fear and prejudice surrounding Aids sufferers.

"The Duchess hopes her connection with the charity will help bring wider attention and understanding of addiction and reduce the stigma that can be associated with it," the Daily Express quoted a senior royal aide as saying.

The Duchess' official spokesman said: "Much of the Duchess's research led her back to the destructive role that addictions play in vulnerable people's and communities' lives. She realised that addictions lie at the heart of many social issues and wants to use her position to highlight this."

Some have suggested that Kate's championing of such a controversial cause may be a result of her mother Carole's brother Gary, who was exposed cutting up cocaine by a newspaper in 2009. (ANI)